Gardening Tips for Success

Updated: Sep 21, 2018

Gardening is the new trend, and a great one at that. It seems that everyone has some type of garden inside or outside their home. Whether it be for environmental purposes or esthetics it doesn’t matter. All gardening helps. Plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen helping you breathe and keeping the air clean. Vegetable gardening also has its benefits by saving you money by growing your own produce. No matter why or what kind of gardening you do, or want to, there are a few things you should know.

Research Your Location

It matters where you live. Soil, water cycle, and sunlight all play a vital role to not only living creatures but living organisms like plants too. Certain species require more or less sun, or even dryer soil. This is important for you to figure out what kind of environment you’re living in. After that- it’s all about picking out local plants that may serve your purpose and most native plants will do just fine. For example, aloe is a tolerant plant, but doesn’t prefer cold weather so more tropical climates like Florida is necessary for it to thrive. So, do some research and find out what neighbors or farmers know about your specific area. They can shed some light with some real-life examples.

Watch the Weather

Weather is something you’ll also need to research. With the changing climate comes changing weather patterns so becoming up to date on current predictions is necessary. You don’t want to invest in plants that may not last the summer, so take caution. Some plants are more resistant to warmer temperatures and less rain or visa-versa. An easy way to keep up to date on the weather is through an app on your mobile device or smart watch.

Strategize your Wants

Decided what you want your landscape to look like or what you want to attract such as butterflies. Then figure out which plants would serve that purpose. Plant types such as perennials live for more than 2 years, but are only alive for half the year. Annuals , on the other hand, live for 1 year but they usually live for the full year. On a similar note, some insects prefer different flowering plants. Another thing to keep in mind is that some plants need partial sunlight and others full light. Create a diagram about where the sun hits and when, it changes with the seasons so make sure you keep that in mind.

Research Specific Plant needs

This goes hand in hand with researching your location for native plants. Even though local plant life may strive in a certain area, that doesn’t mean it will ALWAYS strive. It’s only natural for some plants to die over time. That’s life. There is a great way to prevent them from dying too quickly and that’s with research. Find out some information on your specific species. It’s easy to find information online, so start there. Find out these important details:

· Watering

· Sunlight

· Temperature fondness

· Soil needs

· Insects to Avoid

Not Your Thing? That’s Okay--Call a professional

Sometimes no matter what you do, a green thumb isn’t for everyone. If all else fails call a professional. They can help by sending out a landscaper to create a paradise so you don’t have to. They’ll listen to what you want and build a design that fits your needs. Don’t worry not everyone is perfect. Professionals are here for a reason.